Healthy lifestyles in people with SMI v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Using photovoice to understand and improve healthy lifestyles of people with serious mental illness
IRAS ID
219627
Contact name
Mike Lucock
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 0 days
Research summary
People with serious mental illness (SMI) tend to have a shorter life span than the general population by about 10-20 years. This is mainly due to increased amount of physical illnesses, such as heart disease, than the general population. Lifestyle explains a lot of this increased risk so it is important that we develop new ways of working with people with SMI to improve their health, for example, a more healthy diet and more physical exercise. Health behaviour change often involves big lifestyle changes so for this to work we must understand people’s preferences and understand the things that prevent them from living healthy lifestyles. \nThis study aims to understand about what health means to people living with SMI, their aspirations for a more healthy lifestyle and the barriers and facilitators to these aspirations. In order to do this, the study will use ‘photovoice’ which can help the person communicate their lived experiences. Approximately eight people with an SMI who express an interest in discussing healthy lifestyles will be given digital cameras to document their everyday lives. Over a period of six weeks, they will take photographs of their environment with an appropriate level of support from the research team. During this time, weekly review sessions will be run in which participants will discuss their photographs, firstly in one to one sessions with a facilitator and then in a group with other participants. \nWe will use the information obtained to co-design a healthy living programme that can be evaluated in a larger study aimed at improving healthy lifestyles in people with SMI.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/NW/0282
Date of REC Opinion
3 Aug 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion